The Polaris Dawn mission, a landmark journey in private space exploration, concluded early Sunday with a successful splashdown off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, at approximately 1:06 pm IST.
This mission marked several historic milestones, including the highest altitude ever reached by a crewed spacecraft since 1972 and the first commercial spacewalk.
Launched on September 10 aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, Polaris Dawn ascended to an impressive altitude of 870 miles, surpassing previous records and venturing farther from Earth than any humans have traveled on a non-lunar mission.
The crew, led by billionaire philanthropist Jared Isaacman, included mission pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet and mission specialists Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis.
During their five-day mission, they conducted nearly 40 scientific experiments in microgravity, focusing on human health and safety in space.
One of the mission's highlights was the historic spacewalk, where Isaacman and Gillis tested SpaceX's new spacesuits, assessing their functionality and mobility. This two-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) set the stage for future commercial spacewalks and provided valuable data on the challenges of performing tasks outside a spacecraft.
Throughout their time in orbit, the crew engaged in various research projects, including studies on the effects of microgravity on human physiology and the development of medical procedures for emergencies in space.
They utilised advanced medical devices to monitor their health and tested Starlink's satellite communication capabilities, successfully streaming data back to Earth.
As Polaris Dawn returns, the data collected will contribute significantly to our understanding of space travel's impact on the human body, paving the way for future missions, including potential journeys to Mars.
The successful splashdown not only concludes this historic mission but also sets the stage for further advancements in commercial spaceflight and exploration.
